1 lav we put it on officiant with the mic clipped to his/her book. We tend to run it hot, but it picks up everybody! Sometimes people have readers/singers and then we bring in the reserves.
Weddings Ceremonies...how many mics?
- Thread starter Bill Kexel
- Start date
I tried that once (hooking the lav on the book) Wouldn't you know it that he kept bumping the book against things; held it at waist level at times, etc. the audio quality was awful.
These days, it always gets clipped to his lapel or tie.
My question is...............Why mic two people when there are three who will speak? Who is the most important person of the day? Hint: the person in white wears it for a reason!!!
I have found it's best to mic (wireless lav) both the minister & the groom.
There have been times where the minister is not close enough to the couple. The groom's mic works perfect for both he & the bride. It is important that the guests can hear everything.
Plus, I also put a backup handheld wireless mic up near the minister & let him know that if there is a problem with his mic (too much wind, etc.) to grab the hand held mic.
I also have 3 additional wireless mics avail. for readers, singers, etc.
This is a ceremony, there are no 2nd chances. Be prepared.
having the groom mic'd doesnt mean the bride is close enough to be heard at the same level of course we handle the controls but why not mic all of them making it easier to control all involved? We short change the bride?
I disagree.
Most always, the bride & groom are facing each other/holding hands when they are speaking.
The groom's mic works perfectly.
Plus, would you really want to try & mic a bride? (white dress)
It's not necessary.
Some may say put a mic stand between them, I would never do that. (looks bad in photos)
That would rank with having the bride & groom wear headgear mics.
At a wedding a few months back, the minister insisted on using the handheld wireless for the vows. He held it.
I have only had two come up and I mic the minister, once did a handheld on a stand and much feedback, because people did not talk right into it,,
If it is an experienced Officiant, I give them the choice. Many have a preference, including one or two that simply don't want any mic (I knew just talking to them that they had the pipes to carry a small ceremony). I will still (generally) lav the groom, but have had some prefer a nearby handheld.
I do like the idea of a choir mic...hmmm. Something I need to look into. Thanks for that.
I do like the idea of a choir mic...hmmm. Something I need to look into. Thanks for that.
Must be a regional thing?....here 3/4 of my wedding gigs also include the ceremony (which is most always outside)
Ok gang, this is what I do or provide.
About 40% of our weddings include the ceremony and I provide 2 mics, 1 lav and a handheld. It is a Shure wireless combo system.
For us, it does not make good business sense to provide more. At $300 a mic (for just the ceremony), it will take a LONG time to recoup the ROI.
(Scott is an exception with rentals handy.)
However, if a ceremony would require "much" more than that, I am not sure it would be an event that "I" would be interested in doing anyway.
I mic the offficiant and hang the lav low on the lapel. I have done the groom thing many times only to have it backfire. Almost every wedding the b&g will end up whispering something to each other that shouldn't be picked up. And God forbid that they should hug. You can't turn it off fast enough to kill the noise or feedback.
And mic the bride? Really? Where would you hang the transpack and hide the wire?
I fear their satisfaction if I put something on her dress that looked like a waterbug in their photos.
About 40% of our weddings include the ceremony and I provide 2 mics, 1 lav and a handheld. It is a Shure wireless combo system.
For us, it does not make good business sense to provide more. At $300 a mic (for just the ceremony), it will take a LONG time to recoup the ROI.
(Scott is an exception with rentals handy.)
However, if a ceremony would require "much" more than that, I am not sure it would be an event that "I" would be interested in doing anyway.
I mic the offficiant and hang the lav low on the lapel. I have done the groom thing many times only to have it backfire. Almost every wedding the b&g will end up whispering something to each other that shouldn't be picked up. And God forbid that they should hug. You can't turn it off fast enough to kill the noise or feedback.
And mic the bride? Really? Where would you hang the transpack and hide the wire?
I fear their satisfaction if I put something on her dress that looked like a waterbug in their photos.
I'm with you Briar. Out of maybe 70 ceremonies that we have done. We have had a mic on the groom perhaps twice. We always mic the officiant and I tell the couple that if they speak in a normal speaking voice that it should pick them up. But that if they are low talkers that perhaps not. I'm a firm believer that people are not stupid and they do understand what they are saying, Given that its being fed to them by the officiant. I can't possible think of having more than one mic with wind sound going through it. Almost every ceremony we do is outside and probably 3/4 have a nice little breeze blowing. It's great for the guests. But to have folks looking at you trying to deal with wind sound and knowing there is nothing you can do is a real pain. And yes I do have a wind guard on it already. One trick I did learn from Brian Harris was to place the Lav under the officiants tie if its to windy then at least you can cut it back some. As DJ sometimes I think we over think this stuff.
If anyone is going to be using multiple mikes, here is a word of advise. Some brands do not play nice with other brands. It is then important to use the same Brand, preferably the same Model too, plus use the same Grouping but assign different channels to all. This will greatly reduce feedback issues. Use of a proper Mike Mixer and its controls/settings will also greatly help to reduce unwanted feedback.